Portable laundry basket and foldable support therefor



G. AGNEW El AL Aug. 9, 1949. J

PORTABLE LAUNDRY BASKET AND FOLDABLE SUPPORT THEREFOR Filed May 8, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 III INVENTOR. 60200 J AGNEW JIV/LLA/QD J. Pussmfie.

Filed May 8, 1948 Aug 9, 1949- G. J. AGNEW ET AL 2,478,678

I PORTABLE LAUNDRY BASKET AND FOLDABLE SUPPORT THEREFOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 25 7 i In IIII Q @J I Q 0 III II 1 1 u /5 M 52 .27 26 .30 34 JNVENTOR.

BE. 7 aeoa/vJAaA/iw BY MMAEDJEL/ssaLJ/a Patented Aug. 9, 1949 P'OBTAELE' LAUNDRY BASKET AN -FOI1DKBIJE SUPPORT THEREEGR'.

comm J. Agnew, Patna n werer; J. Russell, S'rl, Seven'Hills Village, Ohio Application May 8, 1948; Se'rial No. 25,848

This invention relates to laundry baskets --and particularly to aportahle vlaundry lbasket having an improved folda-ble support therefor;

The primary object of this invention is to provide a portable laundry basket; having a: foldable support, whose legs -.can-be extended" or retracted "while holding the basket by its handles in the normal way.

Another object is :to provide a' device of the type stated whose legs are securely lockedwhen in their folded or closed condition, thereby preventing-any dangling orup and down sway-of the legs; 7

A further O'bjGCtfiS ito'provideia'.portable laimdry' basket having a-fo1dable support whose con trols for exte'ndinghan'd' retracting its legs work Witha such ease that :the averagewomanwill have the strength and-required gripito control the legs while holding .the basket'tby its regular handles;

Still" another object is to provide" ail device or the type stated that is rugged structure and economicar td manufacture:

These and other objects of are manned will become apparent-tramweeding of the -f6lio-w irig specification and claims'ftoether' with the accompanying" I drawings -i-'n= which para; are referred to and indicaitdh'jhk'e' referee-cream: acters and wherein:

Figure i is aside elevation of ti e 'lau d fy basket showing" thelegsin theirlopen' condition;

Figure 2 is aside elevation of chasm-e show ing the legs in their closed condition;

Figure 31s an emerged viewflof aipbffiori df'tiie" support membershowing one-of the'c1ats a1- ternate open and closed conditions"; Figure 4 is a; left end view showin metasttion of the casing and. openingtmeans when legs are-m their open condition Figurej' is a left end viev v showingthe posii tion of the dosing and opening means when the legs are in their closed condition;

Figured is a bottom View" of the device'show i-Ii'g' the legs in their open condition;

Figure 7 is a bottom view of the device showing'the legs in their closed condition; y

Referring to :the drawings there is shown-a portable laundry hasket made in accordance with this invention. Reference character :I indicates a clothes basket of conventional constructionhavingside portions l l end portions 1.2, handles l3 and a base 14. The basket is suppor teddoy four legs 28 which are =hinged1y' joined to' the-base I 4-- 1;hroughtwo transversely extending= cleat'sflfii' crdssaectwriwd t eere a e ed es it 22 d i QsW e Y sh w? in the Fi ur i1 F Each cleat 20 is located on the underside-pt the t I4 roe m eth 'e q P r-t e and 1a 29a and whe-nin their open .POSItiOIIS OI cgndii t-ions they underlie the base as designated by the reference'character-Zll, V Each' cleat 29' has pair; ,o f legs 2ft mounted pe en i la t l r. fac t er o when thecleats '20 are ;in; their-.open condition-as shown inthe Figures 1; 3,4 and 6'. [Ifhuseach set qf; legs may b fo e to "u ie e base oans. desigri-atedby the reference character 2 8a when in their closed condition or e1s e the legs ,Inay be extendedto support the basket-It at.a distance above the floor when in their open condition asdesignated by reference character ;-.28. ;Ir r other words'the .basket'may'i'be placed :in either a high position or ,a 10w position-depending uponthe condition of the cleats andlegs; b

Two tens-ionsprings 2-1 ,;are mounted on the" under side ofthe-hasel4 withwtheir freeendsconnected to "eyelets 26 mounted atthe thirdedges 2% of; the cleats 21 which'aire diagonaily opposite the hingemountingedges tl.- v v Ari-opening means-Dr elevatingebar-Bfliis slidably mounted in guides .3 l on each [end zportion' war the hasketttflz' .Ihe upper endof each 14?"- vating bar 30" ha's"a' laterally extending handle? grip" 134" that underlies its" associated basket handle-I532 The :lower endof each elevating *bar is 6on nected" to the clea-t .iey'e1ets-"2 6 "through" curvedelevating :links 321 :Eaich elevating link tein; pixiotally securedtoits associated' elevat'o-r hat" by means'oracotterpih 33.

Two 'ten'sioned Latches 40 are mount'd cn the under side of *the' base 14:- madame-sar s in the form-'uzofflat" Ileal'f springs that can 'he flexedfrom their anchoragewpoint'si- Eaclijlatcii 411 is offset ait'its' midpointflil' sothatthe free' end of: the latch nesim' =a piane lbl-ow' tne nxedna of-zthe latch. The'zfree endi'of the ath is -aa"1noffset tof'orma catch 42 havme' aaabdtmheasr Each cleat 20 is substantially r c lar iii- 551 ablyengaee'd witwuide'stz"mouiited dn eacrfi am n end portion 12 of the basket ID. The retracting rods are spaced from the elevating bars 30 and have handles or knobs 51 mounted on the upper ends thereof proximate the basket handles I 3. The retracting rods 50 are attached to the free ends of the catches 42 by means of cotter pins 54 that pass through terminal holes 44 and 53 of the catches and retracting rods 42 and 50 respectively as is shown most clearly in the Figure 3.

When the legs are in their open condition as illustrated in the Figures 1, 3, 4 and 6 the lower face of each cleat 2c lays against the catch 42 with its second edge 22 engaged with the catch abutment 43. The abutments 43 lock the cleats in their open condition, as shown, wherein the basket member Ill is held in a raised osition upon the legs 28. To fold the legs, the basket is raised slightly above the floor by its handles l3 and while the handles are being thus held by the hands the thumbs are used to depress the knobs 5| of the retracting rods 50. This causes the latches 40 to travel downward thereby disengaging the catches 42 from the cleats 20. This action leaves the cleats free to pivot on their hinges 25. The retraction springs 21 then pull the cleats into their closed condition as indicated by reference character 20a and the legs 28 assume their folded condition as indicated by the reference character 28a. The knobs 5| are then released and the latches 40 now having the position indicated by reference character 40a spring upward to lock the third edges 23 f the cleats 20 against the abutments 43 of the catches 42 wherein the cleats are in the position indicated by the reference character 20a. The abutments 43 are so shaped that the cleats 20 are held at a slight angle to the base l4 wherein the legs 28a are also slightly dependent to the plane of the base I4. The legs 28a are thus held below dead center and are locked in their position by the catches 42. Since the catches lock the legs 28a in their closed condition the coil springs 21 need only have enough strength to pull the cleats and legs into their closed condition after which the latches 40 hold them in place against up and down movement. Therefore the coil spring 21 may be a much weaker spring than would be required if it had to also hold the legs in their folded condition against the pull of gravity.

As will be seen from a study of the Figures and 7 the pair of legs are so positioned on their respective cleats that they do not interfere with one another when in their folded condition.

To return the legs to their open condition the basket handles are again grasped by the hands while at the same time the elevating bar handles 34 are gripped by the finger tips and pulled up. The bars 30 and the elevating links 32 travel upward causing the cleat edges 23 to move outward and away from the catch abutments 43 against the pull of the coil springs 21. The handles 34 are pulled upward until the second edges 22 of the cleats 20 are again engaged with the catch abutments 43, as shown in the Figures 1, 3 and 6. The catches 42 will then hold the cleats 20 locked in their open condition.

Since the handles 34 need only be moved through a distance of approximately two inches and since our principle of construction permits the coil springs 21 to be relatively weak, a basket having a folding support made in accordance with this invention can be easily operated by a woman having average strength and length of finger grip. Furthermore, the releasing mechanism requires but slight thumb pressure on the two knobs 5| to cause the legs to retract under the action of the coil springs 21. The easy operation of this device is further brought about by the fact that the abutments 43 hold the cleats and legs below dead center when folded. Much less force is therefore required to initiate the opening cycle than is required by prior art devices whose legs are at or above dead center when folded.

It will now be clear that there is provided a device which accomplishes the objectives heretofore set forth. While the invention has been disclosed in its preferred form it is to be understood that the specific embodiment thereof as described and illustrated herein is not to be considered in a limited sense as there may be other forms or modifications of the invention which should also be construed to come within the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In combination, a laundry basket and a foldable support therefor, comprising a basket member including a base and two end portions, a support member including two transversely extending cleats hingedly mounted on the said base, each of the said cleats having a pair of legs attached thereto, the said legs underlying the base when in a closed condition and depending from the base when in an open condition, two spring members mounted on the said base, each of the said springs having a free end connected to a cleat and constantly urging it into its closed condition, two tensioned latches mounted on the said base, each of the said latches having a catch thereon capable of maintaining a, cleat and the legs thereon in either of the said closed or open conditions, a closing means mounted on the two end portions and engaged with the said latches and capable of releasing the said catches to permit the spring members to move their respective .cleats and legs into their closed condition, and an opening means mounted on the two end portions and engaged with the said cleats and capable of temporarily disengaging the cleats from their respective catches and of moving the cleats and legs into their open condition.

2. In combination, a laundry basket and a foldable support therefore, comprisin a basket member including a base and two end portions having handles mounted thereon, a support member including two transversly extending cleats hingedly mounted on the said base, each of the said cleats having a pair of legs attached thereto, the said legs underlying the base when in a closed condition and depending from the base when in an opencondition, two spring members mounted on the said baseyeach of the said springs having a free end connected to a cleat and constantly urg- 0 ing it into its closed condition, two tensioned latches mounted on the said base, each of the said latches having a catch thereon capable of maintaining a cleat and the legs thereon in either of the said closed or open conditions, a closing means mounted on the two end portions proximate the said handles and engaged with the said latches and capable of releasing the said catches 150 permit the Sp ing members to move their respective cleats and legs into their closed condition, and an opening means also mounted on the two end portions proximate the said handles and engaged with the said cleats and capable of temporarily disengaging the cleats from their respective catches and of moving the cleats and legs into their open condition.

seces- 3} In c'onibiiiatidn; a baskt aiid a fold able support therefore, comprising abaslz'e't mern be'r includifigabase and two end pcrtionsgasug port" member including two 'tfa-risv y esteem ing cleats, hingedly mounted oflt c saidbase,-

each of the said springs having a freecnecom nected to a cleat andconstantly urging ii -into its closed condition, two tensionedlatchesmounted on the said base, eacnor thesaidlatches having a catch thereon engageable Wit/1'1 dl'i 6f" the aforesaid edges when the cleats-are in their closed condition and engageable with another-of the said edges when the-cleats; are in their open condition, a closing means mounted on the two end portions and engaged with the said latches and capable of releasing -thesaid -eatches to permit the spring members to move their respective cleats and legs into their closed condition, and an opening means also mounted on the two end portions and engaged with the said cleats and capable of temporarily disengaging the cleats from their respective catches and of moving the cleats and legs into their open condition.

4. In combination, a laundry basket and a foldable support therefore, comprising a basket member including a base and two end portions having handles mounted thereon, a support member including two transversly extendin cleats hingedly mounted on the said base, each of the said cleats having a pair of legs attached thereto, the said legs underlying the base when in a closed condition and depending from the base when in an open condition, each of the said cleats being substantially rectangular in cross-section and having three parallel edges, two spring members mounted on the said base, each of the said springs having a free end connected to a cleat and constantly urging it into its closed condition, two tensioned latches mounted on the said base, each of the said latches having a catch thereon engageable with one of the aforesaid edges when the cleats are in their closed condition and engageable with another of the said edges when the cleats are in their open condition, a closing means mounted on the two end portions proximate the said handles and engaged with the said latches and capable of releasing the said catches to permit the spring members to move their respective cleats and legs into their closed condition, and an opening means also mounted on the two end portions proximate the said handles and engaged with the said cleats and capable of temporarily disengaging the cleats from their respective catches and of moving the cleats and legs into their open condition.

5. In combination, a laundry basket and a foldable support therefore, comprising a basket member including a base and two end portions, a support member including two transversly extending cleats hingedly mounted on the said base, each of the said cleats having a pair of legs attached thereto, the said legs underlying the base when in a closed condition and depending from the base when in an open condition, each of the said cleats being substantially rectangular in crosssection and having three parallel edges, two spring members mounted on the said base, each of the said springs having a free end connected to a cieat and constantlyufging it intd its'closed condition, we tensioned iatches-mounted mane: said base, each of the'saidlatches"having aicatch' thereon engageable with one of the aforesaid edges when the cleats are in their closed condi tion and engageable with another of the said edges when the cleats are in their-open condition, a closing means mounted on thetwo end" portions and engaged with the saidzlatches and.

capable of releasing the said catches to pemit the spring members to move their respective cleats and legs into their closed condition, and; an opening means also mounted on the two endportions and engaged with thethirdedge of-Ithe" said cleats and capable of temporarily disengag-a ing the cleats from their respective catches and" of moving the cleatsand legs into their open con dition,

6. In combination,- a laundry basket and a-fold-e able support therefore-comprising a basket mem ber including a base and twoend portions, a. supportmember including two transversely ex tending cleats hingedly mounted: on the said-- base, each of the said cleats" beingsubstantiallyz rectangular in cross-section and having three parallel edges, the said cleats being hingedly engaged with the said base at the first of the said edges, each of the said cleats having a pair of legs attached thereto, the said legs underlying the base when in a closed condition and depending from the base when in an open condition, two spring members mounted on the said base, each of the said springs having a free end connected to a cleat and constantly urging it into its closed condition, two tensioned latches mounted on the said base, each of the said latches having a catch thereon engageable with the third of the aforesaid edges when the cleats are in their closed condition and engageable with the second of the said edges when the cleats are in their open condition, a closing means mounted on the two end portion and engaged with the said.latches and capable of releasing the said catches to permit the spring members to move their respective cleats and legs into their closed condition, and an opening means also mounted on the two end portions and engaged with the third of the aforesaid edges of the said cleats and capable of temporarily disengaging the cleats from their respective catches and of moving the cleats and legs into their open condition.

7. In combination, a laundry basket and a foldable support therefore, comprising a basket member including a base and two end portions, a support member including two transversely extending cleats hingedly mounted on the said base, each of the said cleats having a pair of legs attached thereto, the said legs underlying the base when in a closed condition and depending from the base when in an open condition, two spring members mounted on the said base, each of the said springs having a free end connected to a cleat and constantly urging it into its closed condition, two tensioned latches mounted on the said base, each of the said latches having a catch thereon capable of maintaining a cleat and the legs thereon in either of the said closed or open conditions, each of the said catches having abutments causing the pairs of legs to be non-parallel when in their closed or open condition, a closing means mounted on the two end portions and engaged with the said latches and capable of releasing the said catches to permit the spring members to move their respective cleats and legs into their closed condition, and an opening means also mounted on the two end portions and engaged with the said cleats and capable of temporarily disengaging the cleats from their respective catches and of moving the cleat and legs into their open condition.

8. In combination, a laundry basket and a foldable support therefore, comprising a basket member including a base and two end portions having handles mounted thereon a support member including two transversely extending cleats hingedly mounted on the said base, each of the said cleats being substantially rectangular in cross section and having three parallel edges, the said cleats being hingedly engaged with the said base at the first of the said edges, each of the said cleats having a pair of legs attached thereto, the said legs underlying the base when in a closed condition and depending from the base when in an open condition, two spring members mounted on the said base, each of the said springs having a. free end connected to a cleat and constantly urging it into its closed condition, two tensioned latches mounted on the said base, each of the said latches having a catch thereon engageable with the third of the aforesaid edges when the cleats are in their closed condition and engageable with the second of the said edges when the cleats are in their open condition, each of the said catches having abutments causing the pairs of legs to be non-parallel when in their closed or open condition, a closing means mounted on the two end portions proximate the said handles and engaged with the said latches and capable of releasing the said catches to permit the spring members to move their respective cleats and legs into their closed condition, and an opening means also mounted on the two end portions, proximate the said handles and engaged with the third of the aforesaid edges of the said cleats and capable of temporarily disengaging the cleats from their respective catche and of moving the cleats and legs into their open condition.

GORDON J. AGNEW. WILLARD J. RUSSELL, SR.

No references cited. 

